Complete Tipping Guide 2025

Restaurant Tipping Standards

Tipping at restaurants remains one of the most common situations where gratuity is expected. The standard tip for good service at a sit-down restaurant is typically between 15% and 20% of the pre-tax bill. However, this can vary based on service quality and location.

For exceptional service, consider tipping 20% or more. If the service was poor, it's acceptable to tip less, but communicate any issues with management first. Remember that servers often share tips with bartenders, hosts, and bussers.

Quick Restaurant Tipping Reference:

• Excellent service: 20-25%
• Good service: 18-20%
• Average service: 15-18%
• Below average: 10-15% (speak with manager)

Delivery and Takeout Tipping

Food delivery has become increasingly popular, and tipping etiquette has evolved accordingly. For food delivery services like DoorDash, Uber Eats, or traditional pizza delivery, a tip of 15-20% is standard. However, consider increasing this during bad weather, long distances, or large orders.

For takeout orders where you pick up the food yourself, tipping is optional but appreciated. A tip of 10% for takeout shows appreciation for the kitchen staff who prepared your meal, especially for large or complex orders.

Delivery Tipping Guidelines:

• Standard delivery: 15-20%
• Bad weather/long distance: 20-25%
• Large orders (over $100): 20% minimum
• Takeout (pickup): 10% (optional)

Hotel and Travel Tipping

When staying at hotels, multiple staff members may deserve tips for their service. Housekeeping should receive $2-5 per night, left daily rather than at the end of your stay since different staff may service your room each day.

Bellhops typically receive $1-2 per bag they carry. Concierges should be tipped $5-20 depending on the complexity of the service they provide. For simple directions, no tip is necessary, but for securing hard-to-get reservations or tickets, a larger tip is appropriate.

Hotel Staff Tipping:

• Housekeeping: $2-5 per night
• Bellhop: $1-2 per bag
• Concierge: $5-20 based on service
• Valet: $2-5 when retrieving car
• Room service: 15-20% if not included

Personal Services Tipping

Personal service providers like hairstylists, barbers, nail technicians, and massage therapists generally expect tips of 15-20%. For exceptional service or if you're a regular client, consider tipping 20-25%.

If you receive services from multiple people (for example, a shampoo assistant and a stylist), you should tip each person individually. A good rule is to give the main service provider 15-20% and assistants $3-5 each.

Regional Differences in Tipping

Tipping customs vary significantly by country and even by region within countries. In the United States, tipping is expected and often forms a significant portion of service workers' income. In many European countries, service charges are included in the bill, making additional tipping optional.

When traveling internationally, research local tipping customs beforehand. In some cultures, tipping can even be considered offensive, while in others, it's expected at higher rates than in the US.

When Not to Tip

While tipping is important, there are situations where it's not expected or necessary. Counter service at coffee shops or fast-food restaurants doesn't typically require tips, though tip jars are often available for those who wish to show appreciation.

For services where you're charged a flat rate by professionals (like lawyers, doctors, or accountants), tipping is not appropriate. Additionally, if a mandatory service charge or gratuity is already included in your bill, you're not obligated to tip extra unless you received exceptional service.

Tips for Using Our Calculator

Our tip calculator makes determining the right tip amount easy and accurate. Simply enter your bill amount, select or enter your desired tip percentage, and specify how many people are splitting the bill. The calculator instantly shows you the tip amount, total bill, and per-person cost.

For quick calculations, use our preset percentages (15%, 18%, 20%). For custom situations, enter any percentage you prefer. The calculator handles all the math, ensuring accurate splits every time.